Members of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Medical Students Association, have marked the 2014 World Diabetes Day. The students organised a public lecture at the Nurses’ House at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to mark the day.
The lecture with the theme: ‘Diabetes, Pulling Blinds over the Window to the Soul,’ saw in attendance students, health workers and civil servants.
Dr Andrew Edo of the Department of Internal Medicine, UBTH who delivered a lecture on ‘Diabetes- An Endocrinologist’s View,’ stated that the age-long belief that sugary food causes diabetes is old, adding that sedentary lifestyle, westernisation of civilisation, family history of diabetes, psycho-social stress, and hypertension are among leading causes of the disease.
“Diabetes affects all races, irrespective of the social class and status. It can lead to amputation of foot, dyslipedema, renal failure, neuropathy and cardiovascular failure,” he said.
Dr Edo also lamented the burden of diabetes, saying that few Nigerians can afford the treatment because it is expensive.
In curbing the disease, he suggested that Nigerians should develop healthy lifestyle and avoid obesity.
“People need to engage more in nutrition education, monitor their glucose level, take oral hypoglycemic agent and adopt therapeutic lifestyle amongst others,” he said.
The president of the association, Ogechukwu Nwaobi, stated that the symposium was part of events marking the association’s health week.
“As medical students, we have realised that we need to be in the forefront of advocacy for diseases; and that is why we organised the campaign. We have reduced the rate at which we organise social events, as we now do more of public health advocacy by organising seminars and free medical checkup,” he said.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of award to Prof Michael Ibadin, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) UBTH; Kenneth Imasuagbon; Professor Ray Ozolua of the Department of Pharmacology; Dr Nosa Bazuaye, Head of Department, Hematology and Blood Transfusion; Prof Vincent Iyawe, Provost, College of Medicine, UNIBEN.
At the end of the programme, Dr Osahon Enabulele, Vice President, Commonwealth Medical Association (CWMA) hailed the association for putting up the lecture, which he said was timely.
According to him, the theme of the programme was well selected, considering the fact that many Nigerians are ignorant of diabetes.
“I am happy these students are waking up to the present realities. They should do more of advocacy. From the array of dignitaries that graced the occasion, I must say the association did a great job in bringing them here.”
The association held a free medical outreach at Uselu market the next day, where they distributed free drugs to the traders.
Eddy Uwoghiren
(300-Level, Medicine and Surgery, UNIBEN)
“Also government must wake up to her responsibility and revamp our hospitals so they can properly manage the disease.”
A trader who gave her name as Mama Osagie, thanked the students for the free drugs. Fourteen-year-old Gift Odiase, said she would spread the message about the disease to her family members so that they would protect themselves from it.